So, you’ve got about £500 unexpectedly to spend on yourself.

[Marchmarch]

What would you buy/do?

Must be life enhancing. Already have all the appliances I need, I think.

And of course must be available for home delivery.

(Small windfall which has to be spent on “something nice, just for you.”)

I'd put £100 in my LendWithCare account and enjoy investing that in female entrepreneurs around the world for years and years and years (with the option of one day withdrawing it)

I'm not interested in handbags, shoes, make up, jewellery, home decoration, candles etc. I get my books from the library or charity shop

I like gadgets so maybe a new gadget (but I'm up to date at the moment)

I'm thinking about starting to collect stamps and I've seen a fab starter kit in Oxfam (someone donated their collection) that would be £175

I'd struggle to spend that on me. That's terrible isn't it?

I'm extremely happy with everything I already have. I don't need or want anything

Only time. I want time. You can't buy that though!

I think I'd put £250 into premium bonds, buy some new walking boots, and put the rest towards materials for the online course I am doing :)

Only time. I want time. You can't buy that though

You can in a way. If you need to work, save the money for retirement.

Once you have enough saved, you can stop working or go part time. That's what I'm doing. I'll get a small pension when I'm 60 and the plan is to cut down to 2 days a week or retire completely if I can afford it. Money you don't spend now will be available for you to spend later, so don't buy something for the sake of it is there really isn't anything you want.

Or you could use money you have to buy time now by paying for cleaning, gardening etc that you don't want to do yourself and use the time to do something that's fulfilling to you. Or pay for childcare and use the time for you if you're a time poor mum.

Loads of books for kindle silk bedding .

@BarbaraofSeville I agree with all your suggestions. I save as much as I can into a pension.

I'm already part-time. I'll never be able to do the FIRE thing (fixed income, retire early) but I do already work part time which is good. Unfortunately I fill up my time doing things for others! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Mostly volunteering. I'm my own worst enemy. I do it because I'm a "don't moan about it, do something about it" type of person.

Ironing is really the only thing I'd pay to outsource. We have a small house and garden and are in a cracking routine so everything gets done really easily/quickly.

I also have a fab DH who really does share the mental load, the home admin load, the childcare and we split finances really equally. He's married to a rad fem! 🤣

I love to be alone (introvert) and that has been difficult during the pandemic. DH is beginning to understand my need to recharge alone. He says "do you need to go to your fortress of solitude for a while?" he's an extrovert so doesn't really "get" it but does try.

Maybe I'd use £500 to go to a Star Trek convention when that's allowed again?

A hamper from Fortnums...please

I’d invest in merino base layers, leggings and underwear. I walk a lot, but due to my age, I get quite sweaty. Merino is much more comfortable (and much less stinky) than other fabrics.

Comfort is everything these days!

I’d spend £200 on a Dufy robo hoover. Love mine.

Massage, hair cut, gym membership. Pre lockdown of course. Now? Good way towards a new laptop!

I want a desk so I’d probably spend most of it John Lewis. I’d probably get a big bottle of Olaplex and some Chanel No 5 or 19. All spent.

Lingerie

I'd book up a piano retreat at Finchcocks. I'm going in April and I'm sooooo excited, two days all alone full board, wine, piano and PEACE

www.finchcocks.com/

I just have this as well, actually a bit more, won an award at work.

Normally all bonuses go to the house or family time but I am determined this time it is for me as it is the recognition of working 2 months of hell.

I will get a new phone, one I want, not because I need one. Then I put some aside to go to Longleat and have a Koala experience. That I have to share with DD but we did it before and it is a lovely time together.

Then I go on a spa break totally alone, did this 6 years ago, heaven, no conversation, no doing things together, just me and the spa.

Actually, I’d probably get some nice new bedding

I have an addiction to white company bedding, and one of my two sets has worn out (I’ve had it 10 years though). So I need to replace it and can’t justify it

If I am not really sure what to buy then I wouldn't spend it just to get rid of the money.
I'd stick it in an account and wait until there is something that I really want or need.
Money doesn't burn a hole in my pocket.

If I were you I would choose one of the following with £500

A newer hotter Personal trainer 😆, new gym clothes, sign up to regular lessons and make friends with gym rats.

get some minor treatment to reduce appearance of ageing. Like Botox or filler.

hair appointment, extensions. Dye it a different colour! Make it long and lush!

Sign up a master cooking lesson. Preferably classic French culinary class.

I think for me it would depend on the emotional significance of the money. If it was an inheritance from somebody I cared about, or a bonus I'd won in circumstances I was especially proud of, I'd definitely spend some of it on a piece of jewellery.

Other ideas that might suit these particular (lockdown, winter) circumstances...

• A cashmere jumper - John Lewis has 20% on lots right now
• Lovely sheepskin slippers from Celtic & Co
• A bicycle!
• Really plush new bedding, high thread count sheets etc
• A Zuri dress (if it's your thing - suggesting as I love them!)
• A bespoke piece of jewellery from an independent jeweller
• A woven wool blanket from Melin Tregwynt
• A KitchenAid?

In real life, I had a similar amount to spend a few years ago and I bought a second-hand Brompton bicycle which I totally adore, and a small piece of jewellery for sentimental reasons.

You might want to save it for Black Friday / Cyber Monday btw, if you have something in mind that might go on special offer then!

Decent waterproof boots
KMix stand mixer

I can't think of much that would be just for me! (I'd really like some posh shower oil, I had a sample once and it was amazing but at around £20 a bottle I'd never buy it!)

I'd spend it on stuff for the house. We've been having loads of work done but still more to do so the money would go towards that.

@roastedsaltedpeanut

If I were you I would choose one of the following with £500

A newer hotter Personal trainer 😆, new gym clothes, sign up to regular lessons and make friends with gym rats.

get some minor treatment to reduce appearance of ageing. Like Botox or filler.

hair appointment, extensions. Dye it a different colour! Make it long and lush!

Sign up a master cooking lesson. Preferably classic French culinary class.

@roastedsaltedpeanut Have you seen the French Cooking Academy YouTube channel? It’s brilliant, I’d definitely recommend if you want to teach yourself at home!

Right now I'd buy robot vaccumm cleaner and a pair of DM's if I had the money. Enjoy treating yourself OP!

If I had £500 to spend just on me I'd spend it all on personal training sessions. Or maybe £400 on personal training and £100 on a really nice pair of (smaller) jeans.

@HollyandIvyandallthingsYule 😍😍 love the YouTube channel. So well organised. Will definitely have a next week xx

OP, will you indulge our curiosity and come back and tell us what you do decide to spend it on?!

£500 of flowers would be wonderful - and very much in the spirit of this windfall.
Or hang on to it for a while, until things are more normal, and treat yourself to several ballet/opera tickets - get dressed to the nines and go on your own, definitely budget for champagne at the interval.
Or a day trip to Paris? With only yourself to please.